REPORT OF THE HORTICULTURIST 135 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



not be as valuable, but it begins to bloom about the 1st of June when most of the 

 varieties of the common lilac are over. It is a robust species and attains a height 

 of ten feet. The foliage is deep green and the leaves large, thick and very glossy, 

 making it quite attractive. The flowers are bluish purple and have no perfume and 

 are not borne in as large trusses as the common lilac. This is a desirable species on 

 account of its giving a succession of bloom and for its fine foliage ; it also makes a 

 very good hedge plant, forming a stiff row and being very attractive on account of its 

 glossy foliage. 



Syringa Bretschneideri. — This is a species somewhat resembling 8. persica, but 

 is more upright in growth, more vigorous and hardier and with handsome foliage. 

 By some authorities it is said to be S. Emodi rosea It is, however, quite distinct 

 from anything else growing here. It is not of special merit as it blooms about the 

 eame time as some of the best varieties of the common lilac. The flowers are some- 

 what the same colour as the Persian, being a bluish purple. 



8. villosa, Vahl. — A native of Northern China, and introduced in 1880. It is a 

 strong grower and said to reach a height of six feet, though from present indications 

 it will grow a little taller than that here. The leaves are rough and rather coarse 

 looking, but this tends to make the shrub more striking. It flowers during the second 

 week of June, closely following 8. Josikoea. It is a free bloomer, the flowers, which are 

 not highly perfumed, being pale bluish pink and the clusters of good size. This is a 

 very desirable species. 



Syringa Emodi, Wall. — A native of the Himalayan mountains, and introduced 

 in 1840. There is very little difference between this and 8. villosa as grown here, 

 although those labelled S. Emodi have not proven so hardy and the leaves are larger. 

 There is a variety, rosea, of this species and also one with variegated leaves. 



Syringa pelcinensis, Rupr. — This species is a native of Northern China, and was 

 introduced in 1886. It is also sometimes called Ligustrina pehinensis, Kegel. This 

 species has not bloomed here nor proven perfectly hardy so far. There is a pendu- 

 lous variety of it. 



Syringa amurensis, Eupr. — A native of Manchuria and Japan, and introduced 

 in 1863. It is a strong growing shrub and might be called a small tree, as the ten- 

 dency is to have only one stem. It is of a moderately spreading habit and has at- 

 tractive, clean looking foliage. The flowers are quite different from most of the 

 other species, the individual blooms more resembling those of the privet. They are 

 creamy white and borne in large, loose panicles, and also in smaller and more com- 

 pact ones. This lilac begins to bloom about the beginning of the fourth week of 

 June and is very striking. 



Syringa japonica, Decne. — The Japanese lilac, sometimes known as the tree lilac, 

 is a native of Japan, as its name indicates, and was introduced in 1885. It is very 

 similar in habit of growth to S. amurensis, as grown here, the panicles of flowers, 

 however are larger and more compact. It blooms more than a week later than that 

 species, not being at its best until the first week of July. Both this and 8. amurensis 

 are very desirable. These close the lilac season. 



